A longer version of this review was published on Lost in A Good Book -  https://wp.me/p3x8rS-335

Initially I thought this book was about going to visit a library and borrowing books, and it is, but it is told from the perspective of a single book. It’s a first person narration too which is ok, if not a bit weird.

The little book waits impatiently as they wait to be chosen from the shelf, disappointed as other books around them are chosen. When finally selected they go on a chaotic journey back home, all with the dream of being read in a cosy bed at night.

I am always fascinated by these books normalising books going home from the library and being stained, drawn on, or covered in food. I get that there can be some rough times, torn pages, and yes ok, a scribble or two. But please can we start promoting that library books are for everyone, and you spilling spaghetti sauce all over it isn’t funny, because now that is going to be unable to be borrowed by someone else?

But in the magic picture book world the book is returned unharmed despite a lot of near misses (somehow being fine despite the spaghetti sauce???) and returned on the shelf ready for another exciting library day.

It is fun story about the poor book having a rough time before finally getting read. If you look at it from that perspective it could be funny. But that doesn’t fix there isn’t a lot of story to hold onto. There are other books that talk about the experience of library books that still talk about the chaos of going home while being a bit more interesting and engaging.

It was an ok read, not quite what I thought but a fun adventure of your library experience from the perspective of the books you take out.